Buying new 21 inch CRT monitor - which to buy?

[Oribis]

Ok I just purchased a bunch of new parts for a new computer and they are in the mail as we speak. Im gonna be hooking this monitor up to a geforce 6800 gt 256 mb. I wanted to get a 21 inch CRT monitor perferably black to match the rest of the system.

Some of the ones I've looked at so far are:

Viewsonic 21 inch G220fb http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-116-229&depa=0

Nec FE2111SB Diamondtron monitor
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-002-040&depa=0

Ive also seen a bunch of others around, at this point they are all starting to blend together. Anyone able to give some good reccomendations on one?

 

[Evdawg]

Hey welcome to forums dude

I would also like to know the answer to his question, as well as... are there many refurb monitors out there? and if so, are they worth the risk? or is there much risk involved? I assume it will still be on warranty, maybe 1-3'ish years? Cause i need to upgrade from my 17" viewsonic for the new upcoming games =)
Thanks

 

[DoctorQu]

sorry this isnt too much help, but at work i have one of those Diamondtron 21 inch monitors and it is fantastic! super high res @ high refresh rates with very accurate geometry and color. The only problem is that its BIG, and friggin HEAVY! dont put it on a card table, heh. Ill find out what specific model it is tomorrow

 

[Shad0hawK]

Originally posted by: Oribis
Ok I just purchased a bunch of new parts for a new computer and they are in the mail as we speak. Im gonna be hooking this monitor up to a geforce 6800 gt 256 mb. I wanted to get a 21 inch CRT monitor perferably black to match the rest of the system.

Some of the ones I've looked at so far are:

Viewsonic 21 inch G220fb http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-116-229&depa=0

Nec FE2111SB Diamondtron monitor
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-002-040&depa=0

Ive also seen a bunch of others around, at this point they are all starting to blend together. Anyone able to give some good reccomendations on one?

you would be extremely happy with either. go for which ever you can get a better deal on

 

[CombatChuk]

I believe they are both aperture grill, if that's the case they both have my blessing...

 

[Nebor]

Samsung 213t is a great 21.3" monitor. But it's more of a budget\economy model.

 

[HyTeK]

go with the viewsonic. the text is clearer and the images sharper. I personally have 1 and love it.

 

[fLum0x]

i would go with the sony 21" trinitron. that is what i have an i absolutely love it. If you dont have the money for it...i would go with viewsonic probably...OR....i would just wait til i have the money

 

[CJP]

I've got the 2111sb and it's a really good monitor. The only flaw with it is the image drifts slightly while it's warming up but this isn't noticeable unless I'm looking for it. Also the SuperBright feature is a handy button to press when you want to quickly change your brightness level for games.

 

[Evdawg]

do u think the price difference for the viewsonic would be a better monitor than the NEC? Or would there be much of any difference at all?

Especially since the fact its gonna be over $100 cheaper for the viewsonic

 

[INGlewood78]

I have a sony E540...works great but I've heard that sony stop making monitors. Anyways, I've heard really good stuff about diamondtrons...get the NEC

 

[glugglug]

How about Samsung 1100DF

Or if you trust refurbs,
IBM P260

Both do higher resolution/refresh than what you have listed and are cheaper. The Samsung is a sharp 0.20mm stripe pitch.

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: HyTeK
go with the viewsonic. the text is clearer and the images sharper. I personally have 1 and love it.

I have a 22" ViewSonic P220F and I can't stand it! The geometry is off, along with the convergence and image quality in the top-right corner. On top of that, I get image ghosting, regardless of what cables/video cards I use. It's a POS and I hate it. I will never buy another CRT monitor, ViewSonic product, or refurb monitor!

/rant over

 

[Evdawg]

Originally posted by: SickBeast

Originally posted by: HyTeK
go with the viewsonic. the text is clearer and the images sharper. I personally have 1 and love it.

I have a 22" ViewSonic P220F and I can't stand it! The geometry is off, along with the convergence and image quality in the top-right corner. On top of that, I get image ghosting, regardless of what cables/video cards I use. It's a POS and I hate it. I will never buy another CRT monitor, ViewSonic product, or refurb monitor!

/rant over

Maybe u got a bad one?

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: Evdawg
Maybe u got a bad one?

That may be, but I have yet to own or see a CRT screen that is what I would consider "useable" after 1-2 years of heavy use. To me useable is something that I can do AutoCAD on for 8 hours a day without wondering what I'm clicking on. I find that CRT's always develop geometry and convergence errors that are impossible to correct unless you have the screen serviced. On top of that the screens are always noticeably dimmer, even after as little as a year.

When I first got the P220F it was pretty good. I noticed the convergence problem in the top-right corner right away, but there was nothing I could do since the screen was a refurb.

Sorry, I know this is getting off-topic. My reccomendation to the OP is to stay away from ViewSonic, and I would even suggest an LCD if he were open to that type of reccomendation.

 

[BenSkywalker]

I assume this is a gaming system? If so, the NEC FP2141SB-BK is the best gaming monitor I've ever seen hands down(well, the Mitsubishi 2070SB-BK is the exact same monitor and is obviously just as good). 22", black and pushes 2048x1536@85Hz(86Hz actually, but I have yet to see a graphics card that supports higher then 85Hz at that res ).

 

[glugglug]

Or how about an Iiyama HM204DT

2048x1536@90Hz

 

[Soulkeeper]

i purchased the Viewsonic 21 inch G220fb earlier this year and just couldn't believe the difference at 1600x1200 on my old/new games when compared to my 17" viewsonic
i'm very happy with this monitor

 

[CVSiN]

I dunno beast.. I must have really great luck with monitors...
I have an ADI 19 .25 right now thats been steady working for at least 5 years now..
and I was a refurb when I got it...
it is still as bright and as pretty as the day I got it..
and thats MANY MANY hours of Everquest and other Life sucking MMORPG games over those 5 years..
thing prolly has spent more time on than off..

Also just picked up a 21 Viewsonic refurb that has a scratch on it that Directron sold me for 99 bucks...
it has great picture and no funky problems..
I still prefer CRTs over LCDs.. never could stand those things dont like that you have to sit perfectly straight in front of them for ideal picture nor that to get a 19 or bigger I have to sell my children into slavery just to afford one...
no thanks VETO! LCD
CRTs are your friend =)

 

[shamgar03]

I have a 19 inch Viewsonic E90F and it makes me angry thinking about it... The screen shakes if I increase resolution and or frequency above 1024x768 or 60hz. It is "Flat" which means that they were nice enough to put a piece of glass on it that was flat. I would have preferred to not have that there at all rather than be decieved. I also have shadows that are pretty clear when you look at anything solid. I will never ever buy another viewsonic. Oh and its only 2 years old. I am now looking for a new monitor that doesn't hurt my eyes, and is 21 inches.